December 30, 2022 — The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) recently announced that Alexandra Popma, MD, has joined the organization as Executive Director of the CRF Clinical Trials Center (CTC). A distinguished researcher with over 20 years of experience, Popma comes to CRF from The Baim Institute for Clinical Research, a full-service nonprofit academic research organization in Boston, where she served as Chief Operating Officer, according to the CRF statement on the appointment. As Executive Director of the CRF Clinical Trials Center (CTC), she assumes responsibility for the strategic direction, management, and operational aspects of the CTC, working closely with all CTC departments to ensure that the division continues to deliver exceptional research services.
Prior to joining CRF, Popma was also the Director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Core Laboratory at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Under her leadership, the core laboratory developed innovative methods for the analyses of cardiovascular imaging to better understand the outcomes of patients undergoing new device therapy. She received her medical degree from University del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia.
“I am very excited to join the CRF Clinical Trials Center,” said Dr. Popma, adding, “CRF is an organization with an impeccable reputation for innovation in cardiovascular medicine and patient care…working closely with CRF’s world-renowned physician leadership, I hope to strengthen the CTC’s expertise in clinical trial design and development.”
CRF leadership offered the following on the addition of Popma to the CRF team:
“We are delighted to welcome Alexandra to CRF,” said Juan Granada, MD, CRF’s President and Chief Executive Officer. He added, “Dr. Popma’s unique background and experience will boost CRF’s research team and our capabilities to test the clinical performance of emerging cardiovascular technologies. She is a widely respected physician whose leadership and expertise will expand our current research capabilities and services to our sponsors.”
“Alexandra Popma is a remarkable leader and is uniquely qualified to assume the role as Executive Director of the CTC,” said Martin B. Leon, MD, CRF Founder and Chairman Emeritus. “She has the experience, expertise, decisiveness, hands-on commitment to detail, and growth-oriented personality to help lead the CTC to unparalleled heights in the future. We are so fortunate to have Alexandra join CRF in this crucial leadership position,” added Leon.
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is a nonprofit organization specializing in interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. CRF is dedicated to helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease. The organization notes that it has helped accelerate medical breakthroughs and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease for over 30 years. CRF’s centers of excellence include the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.
Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research in the field.
For more information: www.crf.org
For related coverage of TCT: https://www.dicardiology.com/channel/tct
March 04, 2026 
